NHS centre shuts over swine flu

A date has not yet been set when the centre will reopen

An NHS walk-in centre in Southampton will shut temporarily with staff moved to "concentrate" on efforts to combat swine flu, a primary care trust says.

The centre in Shirley will be open for its last session on Friday. No date has been set for resumption of the service.

Southampton City Primary Care Trust (PCT) said staff will be used to help train other healthcare workers.

It comes after a six-year-old girl became the latest person to die after contracting the swine flu virus.

Chloe Buckley, six, from north west London died after contracting swine flu on Thursday.

While the post-mortem of a GP who died after contracting the virus has revealed he died of natural causes.

Dr Michael Day died on Saturday in Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

Southampton City PCT said staff from the Shirley walk-in centre will also be supporting out-of-hours and other healthcare services where necessary.

People across the city are being advised they can still use walk-in centres at the Royal South Hants Hospital and Bitterne health centre.

Dr David Paynton, from NHS Southampton City, said: "Closing Shirley NHS walk-in centre at this stage is necessary to ensure patients in Southampton are able to receive the right treatment if they have symptoms of influenza A."

He added the move will "help reduce pressures on the services which have seen increased activity during the current pandemic".